Marley performs on Show 439.

Marley Isabella Matejka (voice), 17, is a lyric coloratura soprano studying at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Marley came to opera from a childhood background in theatre, where she enjoyed playing roles such as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Eva in But the Giraffe and Brundíbar.

After a Montessori school field trip to see The Magic Flute, Marley became enamored with the otherworldly vocals of opera, and at age 12, she began classical training while continuing to perform in school choirs, community theatre, and show choir. During her freshman year, she decided to focus exclusively on classical voice and transferred to Walnut Hill, where she studies with Matthew Anderson, Teresa Winner Blume, and Elaine Smith Purcell.

At Walnut Hill, Marley has performed in several fully staged operas, including Dido and Aeneas, Orpheus in the Underworld, and The Little Prince. As part of her studies, she performed with the Youth Chorale at the New England Conservatory in Boston for two years and currently sings in the school choir under the direction of Cailin Marcel Manson.

In addition to her musical studies, Marley is also passionate about issues of social justice and activism, serving as a Diversity and Inclusion representative for her school and co-founding a student organization dedicated to creating safe, empowering spaces and community for students who self-identify as non-normative or who occupy minority spaces of any kind. She is also the co-leader of Sister to Sister, an affinity group for Black female-identifying students. A senior, Marley is applying to a range of conservatories both in America and abroad.

Orli has joined From the Top as Guest Host on Show 420, Show 422,  Show 404, Show 405, Show 390, Show 389, Show 379, Show 380, and Show 361.

Concert Pianist Orli Shaham is a regular guest host on From the Top and has an impressive international reputation as one of today’s most gifted pianists. The New York Times called her a “brilliant pianist”, and she is admired worldwide for her interpretations of both standard and modern repertoire.

Orli Shaham released Volumes 1, 2 & 3 of the complete Mozart Sonatas on Canary Classics to rave reviews around the world: “overwhelmingly stunning” (Piano Dao), “altogether exceptional” (World Music Report) and “An absolute must for any of Mozart’s fans” (Midwest Record Review). Volumes 4, 5 and 6 are released in 2023. Her Mozart recording project also includes a concertos album with St. Louis Symphony, proclaimed “outstanding” by International Piano.

In addition to performing concertos and recitals around the world, she is on the piano and chamber music faculty at The Juilliard School. In 2022 Ms. Shaham served on the jury for Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition. She is host of Orli Shaham’s Bach Yard, a live interactive concert series and interactive video series for young children designed to develop listening skills, which she founded in 2010.

Ms. Shaham is one of From the Top’s Co-Hosts and Creatives, and has hosted episodes since 2018.

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